Magician’s lawyer alleges leak

SEATTLE -- Magician David Copperfield's lawyer has accused federal officials of improperly leaking information about a grand jury investigation to a newspaper.

The Seattle Times reported Saturday that a woman told authorities that Copperfield raped, struck and threatened her after inviting her to his estate in the Bahamas after claiming he could help her with her modeling career.

Attorney David Chesnoff insists his client has never struck, threatened or forced himself on any woman.

He said federal law enforcement officials that The Times cited as anonymous sources have disobeyed orders to honor the confidentiality of a grand jury investigation into the incident.

"This not only unfairly and falsely defames my client, but it undermines the integrity of the entire investigation," Chesnoff said in a statement released through a Los Angeles public relations agency Sunday.

Emily Langlie, a spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney's office, declined to comment about the case specifically, but said, "The U.S. attorney's office is very careful to honor the confidentiality of the grand jury and we never disclose grand jury material."

No indictment or criminal charges have been filed.